Black Tennis Pros

Title holders USA secured themselves a spot in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, ousting first round hosts Austria 4-1 in Vienna.

Andy Roddick and James Blake gave Patrick McEnroe’s team a 2-0 lead before the Bryan brothers won the doubles to lift the outfit to an untouchable 3-0 advantage.

The third point for USA was probably the most predictable one, as the Bryan twins have only lost one of their 14 doubles matches on Davis Cup level, against Croatia in 2005. Albeit facing the world’s number six doubles player, Julian Knowle, Mike and Bob Bryan whooshed through the match, overcoming Knowle/Melzer in straight sets 61 64 62 in only 90 minutes. “We had absolutely no chance today”, Knowle showed disappointment. “Had they stayed with us for some time, then the clash could have been tight. But Mike and I really had a good day and clay is our favourite surface”, Bob Bryan explained.

In the dead rubbers, Bob Bryan celebrated a surprising singles victory, while his brother Mike Bryan had to retire with a hamstring injury.

Austrian hopes were high ahead of the tie and memories of the close 2-3 battle between the country’s tennis heroes Thomas Muster, Horst Skoff and Alex Antonitsch against Andre Agassi and his Likes from 1990 were fresh. Rolling out the red carpet, the hosts had a very slow clay court laid out and sold 6,500 tickets at low prices to create the perfect Davis Cup home atmosphere.

Day 3, Wednesday, Feb. 6:

WHAT A DAY! I had a nice sleep last night. I went to bed around 8 p.m., but for some reason I woke up sleepy. I was up and ready to go to the courts by 9 a.m. because I had to hit at 9:30. There was a nice snow storm going on when I woke up. We got about 5 inches of snow, and it was so cold.

When I got to the courts, I had a nice little warm up, then I waited to play the second match after 10. I thought it was going to be a fast match before me, but sure enough it was three hours long. So I just chilled and watched the Fed Cup until it was time for me to play.

I ended up going on the court at around 1 p.m., and I was set to play Neha. I knew I was going to have a tough match because she likes to go for her shots, and when she is on, she can get you.

I think I was pretty steady today on the court. I didn't have that many chances in the first and second sets because she was solid. In the third, I stepped it up, and she went down a little, so I got off with a win. My match was also three hours long... WOW! I won, 7-6 (1), 6-7 (9), 6-1. What a match! And it just happened to be Neha's birthday. Sorry... happy birthday! :)

After my match, I had to sit down because I thought I was going to die. My legs were killing me because I needed some fuel, and I could feel them start to cramp. I didn't have time to go anywhere, and I couldn't because of the storm, so I was forced to eat pizza at the court... oh no, what should I ever do! :)

When I was done with the pizza, I drank two bottles of Gatorade with electrolytes in them, so I was good for my doubles match that we had to play at 5:15, when I finished my singles at 3:45. I will be stretching a lot tonight! We won our doubles, 6-2, 6-4. Good day for me. I am happy. Tomorrow is another day, though.

Finally, when I got home, I had to lie down for a minute and call my dad and let him know how my day went and let him give me his input since he couldn't be here this week. My dad knows me better then anyone in this world, so he is able to coach me over the phone. I don't know anyone else who can do that.

When I was done talking to my dad, I had to call me best friend Ahsha Rolle, and we talked and laughed for awhile like we always do. Now I can shower and eat. Actually, I wasn't hungry right away, so I just watched some cartoons with my little buddy over here named Cameron. He’s 7 and such a lady magnet. I was forced to watch “Lord of the Rings” with him because I just couldn't say no to his cuteness. I am going to sleep in tomorrow, anyway, because I am playing the featured match at 6 p.m. against Laura Granville.

Wish me luck everyone! I will talk to you tomorrow.

Angie
Day 4, Thursday, Feb. 7:

Wait until you here about my match! First, let me tell you how my day was leading up to it.

I slept in until 9 a.m., which was very abnormal for me, but I was so tired from yesterday. When I got up, I showered and ate something. I watched a little bit of "The Kingdom" with my boys over here -- they just love that movie.

After I watched about 10 minutes of that, I was out the door to the tennis center to get my hamstring worked on in the training room. I think that I might have pulled something yesterday. My leg was killing me while I was sleeping. When I got to the training, she stuck her elbow so far into my leg and butt that I thought I was going to give birth to it! I played it cool, though, and acted like it didn't hurt.

I watched a few matches for awhile after that. O'Brien against Cohen -- that would be my next match, so I had to see what they were working with. That was a one-sided match in the end.

I went home and took a nap around 2 so that I could get back to see that trainer again at 4. This time, she just did the stem and a heating pad on my leg before my warm-up at 5. My leg was feeling fine, but it was still very tight.

After my hit, I did my quick pre-game warm-up, which is going over some notes and listening to my zune, and, most importantly, calling my coach (Daddy). I called my dad to get some more confidence and reminders and all that; then I was ready to go. I felt really good going into the match, but I knew that Granville was going to be very solid.

Well, when we started the match, there was an umpire in the back calling the baseline, and already on game 2, he was messing up big time. He missed two calls that the chairperson had to end up calling for him. So after that game was over, which I won, I asked the chair if he was sleeping in the back, and he told me that he was going to do something about it, which he did. He replaced him with another umpire. So after that, everything was fairly OK. We still had a few bad calls, but it was on both sides.

I ended up losing the first set, 3-6. I still felt good because I was playing well, and I knew what she was doing out there.

In the second, I went down, 1-4, because I had a few misses. She wasn't giving any points away. I recovered and came back to tie it at 4-all; then she held for 4-5. Well, I was serving for 5-all, and I was down, 15-30, when I hit a good serve, and we had a short rally, and then she hit a backhand so far out that I didn't even swing at it. It was at least four inches out. You won't believe this, but they somehow managed to sneak the same umpire who was messing up in the beginning of the first set back on the court, and he missed the call again!

When I turned around and saw him, I wanted to grab him by the neck. I think I was more in shock, though, that they put him back on the court. He was just asleep out there all day. I know that he doesn't care about that call, but this is my job, and he is interfering with my money. So I ended up losing, 3-6, 4-6. I am so mad!

I feel that I gave my all, though. I am just going to go home now and sleep and try to think of what I could have done better. I have doubles tomorrow afternoon, so I will try to take the doubles home.

Angie

Day 5, Friday, Feb. 8:

Another day, another dollar. I did a lot of nothing today. I just had so much time to waste.

When I woke up this morning, my hamstring was killing me, so I headed right to the trainer, which was about 9 a.m. I actually waited a few hours because I was on the phone with my mom for a good 40 minutes. She was telling me about how my dogs are acting a fool. I know she loves to babysit them, though. She's not fooling anyone.

When I got to the courts, Tammy (the trainer), set me up on the stem machine again for about 15 minutes, and then she stretched me. My leg was feeling a little better at that moment. Once I was out of there, I watched Granville play a few games, and she wasn't looking too good against O' Brien. She went down, 1-5, before I left. She obviously got it together to win, 6-1, in the third. By that time, it was 12 p.m., so I went back to the house to relax before I had to hit at 2. I didn't do much at the house -- just check my e-mail and sleep.

I had to get my leg wrapped up once I got back to the courts at 1. The wrap felt pretty good when I was warming up, so I used it when I played my match. We were originally supposed to play at 3, but one of the players pulled out of the featured match of singles at 5, so we had to take their spot. That means we had to wait around for another three hours before we played. I just went back to the training room and got rewrapped tighter. It was a long three hours. I was so bored that I thought I was going to pull my hair out.

Finally the time came for us to play, and we were long ready. We played against Fichman and O'Brien. We got off to a slow start, losing the first set, 3-6. We were not as aggressive as we should have been, but we made an adjustment in the second by being more aggressive and poaching a lot more. We just knew their gameplan, also. Plus we were able to step up on the big points. The final outcome was 3-6, 6-3, 10-8. Good day. I am not ready to go home yet, and I was not about to let these little girls send me there.

I called my dad after the match, and he was pleased, I guess. I know he was holding back his tears of joy over the phone. I am glad that I made it through because my hamstring is still very sore. Mashona is playing well, and I think that she can carry me if she has to. She stepped up today like I knew she would.

I am playing second match after 6 p.m. tomorrow, so I am going to play some virtual tennis with my boy, Luke. Let's see if I can keep up with them because I am the worst at video games. OK, everyone. Good night to all, and talk to you tomorrow.

Angie

James Blake recovered to defeat Stefan Koubek 5-7 7-5 6-2 6-2 to put USA 2-0 ahead in its World Group first round tie with Austria in Vienna after Andy Roddick won a five-set thriller against Jurgen Melzer.

"I knew my match against Jurgen would be my toughest," said Roddick. "He played great but I was finally able to get to him in the fifth set."

The American repeated his criticism of the court: "It was terrible. It was only laid on Tuesday and clay needs time to settle.

"It's the same for both players, but it's a shame when points are decided by the court and not the players."

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga began his Davis Cup career with a spectacular win over Andrei Pavel 6-7(2) 6-4 6-4 6-4, giving France a 2-0 lead at the end of the opening day in Sibiu.

Pavel warned those who were expecting a French formality this weekend, “I have a lot of experience in Davis Cup, and I intend to give the rookie a hard time.” Romania’s no. 1 player indeed showed the extent of his talent and experience to force Tsonga into playing his best tennis.

Yet, France’s no. 2 player displayed power and confidence to prevail after a close four setter.

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A teary-eyed second grader says he learned his lesson about responsibility.

His mother made him stand on a street corner across from his school Wednesday with a sign that read, "I was rude to my teacher. I can't come to school. I'm sorry."

Marcia Harvey said her son just made the honor roll at Brentwood Elementary. But she said he he had a lapse in judgement and acted up in class.

Harvey says she loves her son very much but she wanted to teach him a lesson about making good choices, and the consequences of making bad ones.

"I want him to be successful in life," said Harvey. "This is something I thought of that would maybe get his attention."

It did.

"I got to be good in school," the boy said as tears rolled down his face.

Others noticed and offered encouragement.

A crew picking up garbage drove by and shouted, "Be good, stay in school!"